A little bit too much more as it turned out, with desperate Joe Heath red-carded as two penalties sealed the Bulls’ fate.

Unbeaten this year and out of the bottom two of League Two for the first time this season, they arrived at Hillsborough with over 3,000 fans dreaming of a re-run of 1972.

Bidding for their first appearance in the last 16, they must have fancied themselves to repeat the heroics of Ronnie Radford and Ricky George against Newcastle.

Jamie Pitman’s men had won their last five while the Owls had managed just one win in six with boss Alan Irvine under pressure.

The Bulls went ahead as Stuart Fleetwood netted his fourth FA Cup goal this term.

But it all fell apart after a quick-fire equaliser from Darren Potter. A superb solo goal from Jermaine Johnson was sandwiched by two Clinton Morrison penalties.

Relieved Irvine said: “It’s a big result for me and for the club. I’d be naive if I thought I wasn’t in a precarious position.

“It was great to see Clinton score – we only decided yesterday that he would take over penalties.

“He then made a point of coming over to me after the first and giving me a hug.”

Morrison is one of several players to come out in support of Irvine, who is still walking a tightrope with new owner Milan Mandaric backing him – for now.

But they only got their noses ahead after the break thanks to sloppy work by Hereford’s loan striker Jake Jervis and Heath’s folly. Jervis gave the ball away, Johnson raced clear before feeding Paul Heffernan and his cross fell to Morrison, who was hauled back by Heath.

After two penalty misses by his team-mates, Morrison took over the responsibility and fired home the first of two from the spot.

The second rounded off the score after captain Michael Townsend handled.

Between those, Johnson went on a dazzling run before lashing the ball home.

The winger could easily have more as the Bulls fell apart, although boss Pitman said: “It was a tight game, I didn’t think it was a 4-1 but at 2-1 we were caught on the counter.”